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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Has lack of Premier Inn breakfast ruined the weekend?

474 replies

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 16:33

I mean, it hasn't, not for me, but DH seems to feel otherwise and I don't know if I've been UR. We (us and two dc) were in London overnight to see a show. We would normally maximise our time in the city and leave maybe this sort of time on Sunday, but we've all been ill and still feel a bit tired and rundown and so agreed we'd leave after breakfast and maybe a walk/quick trip to a park or the river.

When I woke I realised our PI was about a 20 minute walk from Shoreditch market where I was sure there are loads of cafes and stalls. Although we normally have the PI breakfast I thought this would be a nice change and mean we would be doing what we had planned (quick trip to somewhere nice and a walk) and could then leave. Also looked up a particular cafe that looked nice. Everyone agreed - all fine.

When we arrived at the cafe there was a queue. DH immediately said in a moody way, 'That's that then,' and started huffing. I said let's walk up (we were at the end of the road) it might not be that bad, but he had walked off. We ended up wandering around the area with him getting increasingly grumpy. Sods law, we weren't really going past any suitable looking cafes, although I'm sure the area is full of them. We did see a Pret but I didn't want that.

We eventually saw a nice independent cafe where we were able to have porridge,pastries, toast and spreads, fresh juice and lovely coffee. We all ate but DH wouldn't stop going on about the bloody PI. Yes, I get that he would eat his body weight there and we ended up with a relatively small breakfast that probably cost more (though our kids are 16 and 18, so no more free PI breakfasts!) but what we had was lovely, the place was lovely, and a bit different, and, ffs, PI will still be there next time. I offered to look for another place or even a Greggs for him to 'top up,' but he went in full strop mode. DS1 loves a PI breakfast too and he didn't moan, and dd was wanting pancakes in the place with a queue but she didn't moan that she didn't end up getting them, it's just him acting like a child. He also moaned about the cost, saying PI breakfast would have done for lunch as well, but we were home in time for a late lunch and no one wanted food on the journey so it's like he's just looking for stuff to moan about.

We're home now but he has said he's sick of me making all the decisions, I'm fussy and nothing is good enough and I'm just hard work. He's gone for a run but it was an atmosphere all the way home. Did I do wrong - I get I could have looked at booking but to me it worked out fine in the end.

OP posts:
FlashingFairyLight · 18/01/2026 16:50

The comment that you make all the decisions indicates that the PI breakfast is not the issue though.

Are you fussy? You didn't want PI, you didn't want pret meanwhile your family are tired, run down and hungry and just wanted their breakfast.

Have you wasted time on other breaks wandering about looking for a place to eat that you're happy with?

pouletvous · 18/01/2026 16:50

PI breakfast is minging

an independent cafe would be miuch nicer

why is he sulking about a fry up?

PuppyMonkey · 18/01/2026 16:51

TBH I don’t mind a Premier Inn brekky, plus you get all your teas and coffees included and pastries etc. Saves a fortune ime.

We’ve done the same as you did OP and tried skipping Premier Inn to find somewhere more “exciting” and it always ends up with a long, fruitless search and everyone getting in a bad mood like your DH or arguing about where to go. Let him have a big old childish sulk, he’ll get over it. Hope the show was good!

BCBird · 18/01/2026 16:51

Used to think Premier Inn breakfasts were great, but now I'm not so enamoured with them. Mediocre. I think the attraction for many is you can have as much as you like.

FcukBreastCancer · 18/01/2026 16:51

Yeah I might have been quite grumpy too trekking about hungry.
Our family does love a PI breakfast though.
You probably should have looked online for what was open

EmeraldRoulette · 18/01/2026 16:51

@Liesmorelies so you rejected the convenient all you can eat breakfast buffet option? And wandered around in the cold in an area you don't know instead?

I wouldn't want to do that either, but I would've said so.

also, Shoreditch means anything else would've been much more expensive than Premier Inn?

fatphalange · 18/01/2026 16:52

Tiresome and draining for everyone :( tell him to get himself a PI breakfast from one of your local ones, you don’t have to be a guest . Didn’t know people covet their crappy breakfasts lol

Toothfairy89 · 18/01/2026 16:52

Mirrorx · 18/01/2026 16:49

It doesn't really matter if the PI breakfast wold have been inferior. If that's what he wanted you need to discuss and agree options. It's not clear if that's what happened or if you did, as he says, impose your preference because you're fussy and look down on his choice because nothing's ever good enough.

It does sound like everyone else gave up what they would have preferred to go with you for something naice.

Given the fact they usually have a PI breakfast it doesn't sound like OP imposes her preferencea on then does it?

On one occasion they went to a cafe instead of a PI breakfast, which op says everyone agreed on and her husband had a tantrum about it.

RocketLollyPolly · 18/01/2026 16:52

It sounds like your DH was tired, hungry and ill/recovering and so didn’t want to drag round Shoreditch looking at swanky cafes when he could have just eaten at the hotel in less time and for less money. When you’re in that kind of mood, wandering around looking for food is really irritating.

Toothfairy89 · 18/01/2026 16:53

FcukBreastCancer · 18/01/2026 16:51

Yeah I might have been quite grumpy too trekking about hungry.
Our family does love a PI breakfast though.
You probably should have looked online for what was open

Op did. She found a cafe that was open but as soon as they go there her DH walked off because there was a queue

LVhandbagsatdawn · 18/01/2026 16:53

Honestly I'd take the guaranteed mediocre breakfast over a good one I have to go looking for with no guaranteed results every time.

It feels like too much fuss. I'd have just had the hotel breakfast and gone home.

It would have been different if you'd actually been able to book in to the cafe for breakfast.

jamandcustard · 18/01/2026 16:54

I suspect he was just hungry and irritated that the place you'd picked had a queue.

Glitterandmud · 18/01/2026 16:54

I do think you complicated things unnecessarily, sounds like you spent a lot of time wandering about and hungry when, if you had just had the PI breakfast, you'd have been done and out enjoying your morning.

Given that you said you'd all been ill and still not 100% I'd have taken the easy option over the added stress of finding somewhere, which is an absolutely fine choice to make when everyone is well and in the mood.

Doesn't mean your DH was reasonable to behave like a child though!

Evaka · 18/01/2026 16:54

The repeated use of 'PI breakfast' on this thread is giving me the ick beyond belief.

Yanbu, husband sounds basic and moany.

Daytimetellyqueen · 18/01/2026 16:54

FlashingFairyLight · 18/01/2026 16:50

The comment that you make all the decisions indicates that the PI breakfast is not the issue though.

Are you fussy? You didn't want PI, you didn't want pret meanwhile your family are tired, run down and hungry and just wanted their breakfast.

Have you wasted time on other breaks wandering about looking for a place to eat that you're happy with?

This! My DH is you in this scenario Op & it does my head in. Despite not knowing an area, will assume there will be places to eat and so keeps us walking until we find somewhere he likes, whereas me & the kids just want the hotel breakfast & to get on with our day!

He is a lot better now (after years of either me or the kids stropping!) and will research an area before blindly saying no to good food & walking us off into the unknown!

Sparkletastic · 18/01/2026 16:55

Had you paid for the PI breakfast as part of the booking? If not then YANBU and sulky DH needs to grow up.

Disturbia81 · 18/01/2026 16:56

BillieWiper · 18/01/2026 16:38

I'm pretty sure the PI breakfast would be middling at best, possibly fairly grim. I've not heard of Shoreditch market but I know they're are certainly loads of cafes in that area. He's being a miserable sod!

PI breakfast is gorgeous

CompetitionMyArse · 18/01/2026 16:56

I love a PI breakfast. They have lovely porridge and lovely sausages and the eggs can be cooked to order. We stay in PI quite often and the breakfast is not to be missed.

Conversely, I have never enjoyed an evening meal there. They are always rubbish and I begrudge having to eat dinner there, even if it's the only option available to us at the time. So that's my rule. Dinner somewhere else, but the PI breakfast is a must.

2Rebecca · 18/01/2026 16:56

If he was looking forward to a fry up and that wasn’t an option then he probably would be disappointed especially if finding an alternative took ages. Porridge and pastries are not the same

Newnest58 · 18/01/2026 16:57

Sorry OP I’m with your DH on this one. I love a PI breakfast every so often!

Toothfairy89 · 18/01/2026 16:58

Daytimetellyqueen · 18/01/2026 16:54

This! My DH is you in this scenario Op & it does my head in. Despite not knowing an area, will assume there will be places to eat and so keeps us walking until we find somewhere he likes, whereas me & the kids just want the hotel breakfast & to get on with our day!

He is a lot better now (after years of either me or the kids stropping!) and will research an area before blindly saying no to good food & walking us off into the unknown!

But they do usually have a PI breakfast, so OP isn't doing this this the time. And they all agreed on the cafe, which her dH rejected when they got there.

And would you really create an atmosphere all day about it?

ohyesido · 18/01/2026 16:58

I think everyone is at fault here. He obviously had his heart set on PI, which would have been plentiful but also immediate… you insisted on delaying, for something that was mediocre at best?

he shouldn’t sulk and you should not be precious

Frauhubert · 18/01/2026 16:58

A man sulking over not having a feast on a premier inn breakfast would give me the ick for life. Ewww

VivienneDelacroix · 18/01/2026 16:58

FlashingFairyLight · 18/01/2026 16:50

The comment that you make all the decisions indicates that the PI breakfast is not the issue though.

Are you fussy? You didn't want PI, you didn't want pret meanwhile your family are tired, run down and hungry and just wanted their breakfast.

Have you wasted time on other breaks wandering about looking for a place to eat that you're happy with?

Not fancying a Premier Inn breakfast or a Pret one isn't being fussy! They are both pretty poor quality and not something I'd see as part of an enjoyable weekend away (unless I was taking toddlers and needed somewhere to cater to their tastes and where it's not a problem if they get the table sticky with jammy fingers.

OP, you weren't unreasonable to try and have a nice breakfast somewhere more interesting and tasty before going home. Id appreciate you suggesting it, rather than just going along with the easy (lazy) option of a Premier Inn breakfast. Why anyone would want a Premier Inn or Pret breakfast if they were staying in East London for a weekend, I can't imagine.

Next time leave him to his basic breakfast and go somewhere nice.

itsthetea · 18/01/2026 17:00

It wasn’t perfect because I would have been starving but as a plan it was fine and a bit different and if he didn’t like the plan he should have spoken up and then as a family you could decide / vote otherwise he agreed and it just didn’t quite work out